News Releases

Presence Resurrection Medical Center Honors Local Volunteer Stroke Educators with the Inspire Award for Exceptional Community Service

Chicago, Illinois (May 13, 2014) –Presence Resurrection Medical Center (PRMC) honored its volunteer stroke educators, Rich Mika and Patricia LaMontagna with an Inspire Award for community service. Mika a Portage Park resident and LaMontagna of Jefferson Park, both stroke survivors were recognized for their tireless efforts in supporting and educating stroke survivors, their families and caregivers.

Mika founded the stroke survivor peer visitation program at PRMC and serves as a co-facilitator of the Afterglow Stroke Support Group with fellow volunteer LaMontagna. Together, they serve as volunteer educators with the National Aphasia Association and train law enforcement officers throughout the Cook County’s Sheriff’s Police Training Academy to recognize the signs and symptoms of aphasia that impair the communication abilities of stroke survivors.

“Rich and Pat are empowering stroke survivors to regain control of their lives while also educating first responders about the signs and symptoms of stroke that help accelerate care which is vital to recovery and something PRMC strives for as a Certified Primary Stroke Center ” said John Baird, president and CEO of Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Presence Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center and Presence Holy Family Medical Center. “Their work has helped Illinois become only the second state in the country to conduct aphasia awareness training for newly hired officers and we are honored to recognize their contributions.”

The Inspire Award is presented annually to a community organization or leader who exemplifies the values that inspire the hospital’s community outreach. It also recognizes inspirational leadership that advances the well-being of the community. More than 150 business leaders, community leaders, physicians, clinicians and stroke survivors attended the event, which was held at the hospital’s Marian Conference Center the evening of May 8, 2014.

About Presence Resurrection Medical Center
Presence Resurrection Medical Center is part of Presence Health, the largest Catholic health system based in Illinois, created in November, 2011 through the merger of Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. With over 100 sites of care, including 12 hospitals, Presence Health has 22,000 employees and 4,000 medical professionals. Visit presencehealth.org to learn more.